Monsoon Holiday to the Green Paradise called Kaginahare
The monsoons happen to be my favorite season of the year. The freshly washed earth, the clean air, the abundance in mother nature, the busy activity in the food chain and last, but not the least, the various shades of mind, soul and body relaxing green that is present almost everywhere this season is what makes the monsoons so special. And one of the best places to experience the rains is the Western Ghats, a gem in nature and one of the perks for all those living in central to Peninsular India owing to close proximity.
Last week, I was at one such gem in the Western Ghats called Kaginahare. This tract of state forest located in the Malnad region of Karnataka is an off beat holiday getaway and makes for a spectacular panorama of green rolling hills in the rainy season. This place came into prominence during the reign of Tipu Sultan (1750-99) when he built a small fort here to serve as a watch tower for the larger and more important Manjarabad fort.
Today, the entire fort is in ruins and all one can see is a heap of red bricks stacked together. But, one doesn’t go here for the fort, but for the experience of being surrounded by a green paradise.
Overlooking Bisle rainforest at one end and the Kagenari State forest through which the Mangalore – Bangalore NH 75 highway passes through at the other, this fort is situated at a dead end. One can drive to this place via the villages of Athihally, Hiligallu and Hongadahalla. The drive is serene and covered with tropical forests, very small villages, spice farms and coffee estates. One can also stop by the Mookana Mane waterfalls, which falls enroute.
One can drive all the way till the Chamundeswari temple, post which, one will have to embark on the rest of the journey by foot. 4 wheel drives can take you all the way to the top during the dry season, but during the wet season, one will have to depend on their two feet to take them to the top of the various peaks.
To be honest, I kind of prefer the walking route as it gives you a lay of the land and you can soak in the beauty of these rolling hills and forests at every turn and at every place you stop to catch your breath. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to reach the top from the Chamundeshwari temple. Do prepare for slush, rain, cold winds and heavy mist cover during the rainy season. A good pair of boots, a bottle of water, a solid rain jacket and rain cover for your gadgets are heavily recommended. There are no leeches here due to the cold and the altitude, but do keep an eye out for them in case the weather turns warmer.
Do not be disappointed if all you get to see is a blanket of mist on the top. Be patient and stay on the top for at least 30 minutes. The mist usually clears from time to time and more so if there is heavy rain. You can keep hopping from peak to peak to get different vantage points of the green rolling hills. The view from each peak will leave you dumbfounded and pretty soon you will fall in love with this green blanket of a view.
If monsoon treks, monsoon holidays, getting wet in rains, rural holidays and Western Ghats are your thing, you will definitely find this offbeat destination to be truly special. For me, it is simply a ‘Green Paradise’ that is called Kaginahare!
